Autumn Song

[From "Autumn Song" Copyright SOCAN]
"Autumn never smiles...
At those who face the wind...
There are no favours taken...
given...this time...
This time is for the wind...
This time is for the stone...
This time is for the one
who can catch fire...
...And what wll become of you
when the swimmers come back to shore?...
You can't put off anymore...your life..."
.............Quester.

Springtime By English Bay

This is a clip that recalls my favourite season...spring...by one of my
favourite places...English Bay. There is also something special about
the wind...never visible on its own...but in the effect it has on
things in its wake...........Quester.

Lacrosse Night

Last night I was honoured by friends from a reserve in Southern Ontario...inviting me
to join them in watching their lacrosse team...the Six Nations Arrows...play in the Minto Cup playoffs. What was very special for them...and for me...was that their son Jacob was playing for the Arrows. I can only imagine how proud they must have been seeing him play...at this level of lacrosse. As an avid sports fan myself it felt great being there...with the added dimension of hanging out with friends I hadn't seen for a while. The Arrows happened to lose this particular game...but I very much enjoyed watching the high level of play. Their chances in the playoffs are still alive. My friends and myself...are scheduled to return to watch their do or die game tomorrow night. Whatever happens...I know it's been a memorable experience for me. One of the highlights for me was the Six Nations Dancers...doing their ceremonial dance at the
beginning of the game. Part of it is on the video clip I uploaded tonight. Let's see if
this one registers.....................Quester.

Long Live Empathy

A few weeks ago...on the internet...found a piece someone had written...recommending
some of the songs i've written on Earth/The Environment. This writer was very complimentary...but she said she had one "quibble" about the "alcoholism" mentioned in a couple of my songs...a "quibble" which seemed to infer that she might think that this man writes good songs about the Earth...but he seems to have this problem with alcohol ...not so good. The truth...of course...is simply...that I don't drink alcohol. I'd written and recorded two song about characters in the songs...who had such a problem...because I wouldn't have been doing my job as an artist...if I'd written about several aspects of a certain sector of society and their lives...but pretended that this problem doesn't come into their lives. In a way...the woman's "quibble" may have been a compliment...because what I wrote in these two songs...was to her...so "believeable". What I'm getting to here...is that...a songwriter...as I see it...has to have sensitivity and loads of empathy for who or what he is writing about. By bringing your empathy to what you write about...you always
run the risk...of having people believe you are writing about yourself...at times when you are not...when what is happening...is that you're totally immersed in the subject at hand...and that's what you're writing about. Long live empathy...sometimes in short supply in our world.
............Quester.

Ostrich Lady

I have written on this blog before about my favourite Vancouver Summer Festival...the
Illuminares Festival...a most human...creative...imaginative...and friendly festival.
It also seems to be an open ended photo op for people with cameras to take pictures of
people in interesting costumes. From the first time I went to this festival...I couldn't help but notice a group of people in imaginative and striking costumes...because they were simply taller than everyone else present. No wonder...they
were on stilts!. I still marvel at how they stride on magestically...keeping their
grace and good cheer...and taking us all back to childhood. They must also be very brave...because falling from the height they usually travel at...could cause injury...I
would think. Anyway...here's to the "stilt people"...of the Illuminares Festival...
whatever they may be...they are certainly not "stilted"...in what they do. Today's
video clip...is of a short photo op encounter with "Ostrich Lady"........Quester.

Heron

Being able to upload video on to my blog is completely new to me...so I'm still working
out its parameters. Today's clip is a raw file...shot via the video option...on my digital still camera. Being able to see wild creatures in the heart of Vancouver...and
I am not referring to Saturday night on Granville Street...is one of my joys...living
in Vancouver. This heron was going about its calm business...on the edge of English
Bay. There is a heronry with many nests not far away. Let's see if this works.

August Night Improvisation

I hadn't posted for such a long time...I was pleasantly surprised to find out tonight
that I can upload videos. This is very fitting...since it is video making that has kept
me away from blogging the last while. This dis
covery has caused me to fo an "August Night Improvisation"...the title of the video. Hope this first time effort works. blog Id:12030052
Video Id 815f186fefd411b5

These Sensitive Ones

As someone who has written songs for a long time...I've had my share of pleasant
responses from many people...which I...of course...have always appreciated...in a world where what you create...and perform...could meet with total indifference. Every time I sit down to write a song...I want to "say something". There are times...when I go deep and wide...and return with something I really want to say...hopefully said in a subtle or poetic way. Some of these songs have been put out into the world...or to whatever small fragment of the world...they reach. What I'm coming slowly around to...is this...the compliments I get...range from "nice voice"...to "nice guitar" playing...to "nice melody"...to "nice painting" on the wall behind you in your video...and variants of the pleasant adjective used. I am happy that the most misused word in the English language..."awesome"...has hardly turned up...if at all. I am thankful for these pleasant pieces of encouragement. Once in a while...someone sends me words...that show me that my song...down to phrases and lines...has reached their heart and/or soul. These are the responses that make me glad I'm a song-writer...showing me that my digging deep to create my song...really connected with someone out in the world...someone who really gets what I'm saying. May these sensitive ones continue to be. Their place in an artist's world...is an important one...........Quester.